Student reports man chasing her in Mishawaka

Parents get letter about latest incident.

Parents get letter about latest incident.

November 03, 2006|ERIN MILLER Tribune Staff Writer

MISHAWAKA -- A 10-year-old Emmons Elementary School student reported being chased by a man Wednesday evening. The girl told police she was walking near the intersection of 13th and Union streets about 5 p.m. when a man approached her from behind a building. The girl said the man said, "Hey kid, come here." The girl turned and ran back to the school, where the secretary called the Mishawaka Police Department to report the incident. The girl said the man chased her until she was about halfway down the alley leading to the school. Parents of Emmons students were to get a letter Thursday afternoon describing the incident, which remains under investigation. The letter said the incident is "a good reminder that all our students should be cautious when going to and from school. Students should not talk to strangers they do not know and should report to their parents any situations involving strangers." Information about Wednesday's incident was being shared with other School City of Mishawaka schools, Director of Human Resources Gregg Hixenbaugh said. Mishawaka police and School City of Mishawaka officials investigated five reports of similarly suspicious incidents near John Young Middle School and Beiger Elementary School in October. Hixenbaugh said no new information about the earlier incidents has been released. "We feel a duty and an obligation to treat each report very seriously," Hixenbaugh said. Staff writer Erin Miller: emiller@sbtinfo.com (574) 235-6553